Drawing Curve Approximations

Drawing Curve Approximations

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draw_curve_appr 

 

The Curve Approximation tool will insert a specified number of points and edges evenly spaced on  a selected section of a curve or conic.  This is a great tool for introducing problems using the Trapezoidal Method of integration.  (Take a look at our Gx book, Calculus Explorations .)

Here are the steps:

  1. Click Draw / Curve Approximation icon_curve_app .
  2. Select any function, circle, ellipse or parabola and drag the cursor over the curve.
  3. In the data entry box type the number of points you want on the arc.   draw_curve_app1  draw_curve_app2 

Note:  It is best to draw your curve independent of existing points on the curve.  Then connect other geometry to the approximation points.  If you start or finish the arc with points lying on the curve (e.g. point C in the ellipse above) and later decide to delete the curve approximation, attached geometry may also get deleted.

 

Here is the area of a function using the Trapezoidal Method:

trapezoidal